The CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia has denied accusing his Ivory Coast team-mate Yaya Touré of “overreacting” to claims that he was subject to monkey chants by the club’s fans. The row exploded during Manchester City’s 2-1 win at CSKA on Wednesday.

A furious Touré says he was racially abused on several occasions by fans at the Khimki Arena, but CSKA flatly rejected the claims. On Thursday, the club released comments attributed to Doumbia on its official website, saying that Touré had “overreacted”.

“I’ve heard nothing of this from our fans,” Doumbia supposedly said, according to the club website. “Yes, they are noisy and try to put maximum pressure on the opponent, but they make no racist chants. So my fellow Cote d’Ivoire international has obviously overreacted a little bit.”

However, in comments on Doumbia’s Facebook fanpage on Friday, the striker insisted that he had never said anything of the sort. “I want to clarify my position after my Ivory Coast team mate and friend Yaya Touré accused CSKA fans of racism,” read a statement posted in both English and French on the page, which appears genuine. “I want to insist that I did not talk to any journalist about these facts so none of the quotes you read in the press came from me.”

Yet the comments were still proudly displayed on the club’s own website, as part of a story in which the club say they are “surprised and disappointed” at Touré’s allegations.

It was not possible to verify immediately that the comments posted on the Facebook page were a direct statement from Doumbia, and calls to the CSKA press office went unanswered.

CSKA have been charged by Uefa in connection with the incident.

Guardian Service